Tipp fall to Clare in Minor Hurling opener

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 1

Clare2-15

Tipperary0-14

Report: Liam Hogan in Shannon

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Michael Collins (Clare)

SCORERS - Clare: Mark O’Brien 1-4 (0-4 frees), Michael Collins 1-2, Michael Power 0-3, Fred Hegarty 0-2 (1 free), Sean Arthur, Jack Mescall, Eoin Carey, Evan Price 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Robbie Ryan 0-6 (5 frees, 1 65), Sam Rowan 0-4, Shane Buckley 0-2 (1 free), Jamie Ormond, Leigh Loughnane 0-1 each.

Tipperary failed to match a very useful Clare side in this Munster Minor Hurling Championship first round tie at a rain swept Wolfe Tones GAA club in Shannon on Tuesday evening.

Tipp trailed 1-11 to 0-6 at half time as the found the Banner side very hungry for success. Despite facing a stiff breeze and heavy rain, Tipperary began in positive fashion and led 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

However, Clare began to get a grip on the game and were it not for the number of wides (five by then and twelve by half time) and by the twelfth minute they were level after Mark O’Brien converted free which came seconds after Tipperary goalkeeper Harry Loughnane denied a certain goal for Mark O’Brien.

Michael Power was a major threat in the left corner and he put Clare in front with two points in succession before the speedy Michael Collins scored a superb individual goal following a surging diagonal run in the sixteenth minute.

Further points by Fred Hegarty and Michael Collins plus a Mark O’Brien free moved Clare eight points in front. Skipper Jamie Ormond replied for Tipp before Hegarty landed a ninety metre free as Clare were well on top and after their corner back Eoin Carey ventured up field to score another point, the home-side led 1-11 to 0-6 at the interval.

Now playing with the help of the elements in the second half, suggested that Tipp could find their way back into contention. However, it didn’t prove that way as Clare increased their lead by three come the 36th minute with O’Brien (free), Collins and Power finding the target.

Tipp did likewise over the next ten minutes with Robbie Ryan accurate from frees plus the excellent Sam Rowan on target. If anything, Tipp were slowly gaining traction and in the 50th minute they might have scored a goal but for the efforts of a close marking Clare inside backline where Eoin Gunning and Ronan Keane excelled. Seconds later the play was at the other end with Collins raiding down the right wing before sending the ball across the Tipp goalmouth for Mark O’Brien to find the net, a six point swing.

An eleven-point deficit might have been a licence to pack one’s bags and head for home but Tipp pushed the Clare boys with their best hurling of the night as the scores arrived in the shape of three placed balls from Robbie Ryan either side of a long range effort by Shane Buckley before Rowan and Ormond added to the Tipp total leaving them six in arrears with play in added time.

In that period, Tipp free-taker Robbie Ryan went for a goal from two close range frees but the Clare defence were alert and in the fifth minute of added time it was Clare substitute Evan Price who had the final score of the game.

Tipperary will look back at this game and suggest that they can hurl much better. Evan Morris, Ciaran Byrne Oisin O’Donoghue were best in defence while Sam Rowan was best in attack with Jamie Ormond and Shane Buckley always willing to assist.

This is a good Clare team. Their backline is strong and Eoin Gunning and Ronan Keane had the mark of class while up front there was a good return from the impressive Michael Collins, Fred Hegarty and Michael Power.

Tipperary next face Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Tuesday, 4th April.

TEAMS - Clare: Mark Sheedy; Eoin Gunning, Ronan Keane, Eoin Carey; Matthew O’Halloran, Mark O’Connor, Jamie Moylan; Oige Fanning, Ronan Kilroy; Michael Collins, Fred Hegarty, Sean Arthur; Jack Mescal, Mark O’Brien, Michael Power.

Subs: Harry Doherty for Fanning (53); Evan Price for Keane (54 inj); Eoghan Begley for Mescal (57); Robert Loftus for Gunning (60+1).

Tipperary: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Sean Nash (St. Patricks), Evan Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill), Ciaran Byrne (Golden Kilfeacle); Cian Ryan (Moneygall), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh Linnane (Mullinahone); Keith Loughnane (Durlas Og), Shane Buckley (Knockavilla Kickhams); David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris), Sam Rowan (Mullinahone), Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens, Capt); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris), Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers).

Subs: Toby Corbett (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Nash (39); Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan) for C Ryan (39); Colm Kennedy (Sean Treacys) for Hayes (48); Leigh Loughnane (Roscrea) for A Ryan (57); Jake Houlihan (Nenagh Eire Og) for R Ryan (60).

Referee: David Deady (Limerick).